PEN International delegates from the Americas, Europe and Asia have been in Mexico City this week to support the Mexican press in their struggle to speak the truth about Mexican political and security policies.

Between 2000 and 2011, at least 67 journalists have been murdered in Mexico. More have “disappeared”, and 19 newspaper and media centers have been attacked.

Yesterday I watched Carmen Aristegui’s interview with John Ralston Saul on CNN. It was a very disturbing half hour.

As president of Pen International, a literary organization dedicated to the protection of writers and the defense of free press, he condemned the killings, and called for an end to the impunity.

The foreign representatives stood with Elena Poniatowska, Javier Sicilia, Laura Esquivel, and dozens of other Mexican writers and journalists and promised their support for a free press and freedom of expression in Mexico.

Prior to the gathering with Mexican officials, PEN International printed a petition in the Mexico City newspaper El Universal that had been signed by 170 leading writers from all over the world in support of the Mexican journalists.

When Ms. Aristegui asked Mr. Ralston Saul what would happen after the meetings had concluded, he answered that many articles calling for action by the authorities will be written and published in the world’s leading periodicals.

John Ralston Saul made a point of saying that corruption exists in every country. The difference in Mexico is with the degree.

No level of corruption is acceptable… but some are more damaging and have worse consequences

I applaud this action by Pen International. Pressure of this kind must come from sources outside the country.

However, the articles that will inundate the press in the coming months… will, as always, disrupt the lives of the common people in Mexico. Tourism will go down again. Millions of low-salaried workers will have new rocks thrown at their glass houses. I hope that the international journalists will poison their pens well, and accomplish what they set out to do. Because if they don’t, all the suffering that the population will endure, will be for naught.

Magic Made in Mexico

More and more internationals are setting up permanent residence in Mexico. The adventure is full of excitement but also has its challenges. I wrote "Magic Made in Mexico" based on my experiences and cultural adaptation to living here. By clicking on the image, you will be directed to my editor's website. The book can be ordered directly from "Editorial Mazatlan" and also through Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Joanna van der Gracht de Rosado

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